Boss O’Neill goes into ­Friday’s World Cup ­qualifier at the Aviva Stadium without at least five of the players who helped them beat Austria

Neil O'Riordan

21st March 2017,8:05 am

MARTIN O’NEILL has backed his fringe ­players not to let Wales to take the wind out of Ireland’s sails.

Boss O’Neill goes into ­Friday’s World Cup ­qualifier at the Aviva Stadium without at least five of the players who helped Ireland win 1-0 in ­Austria in November — seen by many as their best away victory in 29 years.

O’Neill will also have to check on the well-being of winger James McClean, whom he said was ‘devastated’ following the sudden death of his ex-Derry City team-mate Ryan McBride, who will be ­buried on Thursday.

But the Ireland boss has faith in those who will take to the pitch at the Aviva Stadium to maintain the team’s fine start to the Group D campaign.